Louisiana Hummingbirds: 14 Awesome Documented Species

This article identifies and describes Louisiana hummingbirds, where in Louisiana they are seen, and whether they are year-round, seasonal, or rare vagrant residents.

Which species of Louisiana hummingbirds are found in the state?

Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Buff-bellied, Calliope, Broad-tailed, Broad-billed, Allen’s, Anna’s, Blue-throated Mt-Gem, Green-breasted Mango, Mexican Violetear, Rivoli’s, and Lucifer hummingbirds are the 14 species of hummingbirds documented as seen in Louisiana listed in order of frequency seen.

Sighting Maps:

These 14 species of hummingbirds are documented as being seen in Louisiana by sighting maps, listed in the order of frequently seen:

• Ruby-throated (Archilochus colubris)
• Rufous (Selasphorus rufus)
• Black-chinned (Archilochus alexandri)
• Buff-bellied (Amazilia yucatanensis)
• Calliope (Selasphorus calliope)
• Broad-tailed (Selasphorus platycercus)
• Broad-billed (Cynanthus latirostris)
• Allen’s (Selasphorus sasin)
• Anna’s (Calypte anna)
• Blue-throated Mt-Gem 
  (Lampornis clemenciae)
• Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii)
• Mexican Violetear (Colibri thalassinus)
• Rivoli’s (Eugenes fulgens)
• Lucifer (Calothorax lucifer)

These 14 hummingbird species found in Louisiana are further categorized into three groups: Year-round residents, Seasonal visitors, and Rare/Vagrant visitors.

Hummingbird:	Year-Round, Seasonal, Rare/Vagrant
Ruby-throated	Seasonal
Rufous	Seasonal
Black-chinned	Seasonal
Buff-bellied	Seasonal
Calliope	Seasonal
Broad-tailed	Rare vagrant
Broad-billed	Rare vagrant
Allen’s	Rare vagrant
Anna’s	Rare vagrant
Blue-throated Mt-Gem	Rare vagrant
Mexican Violetear	Rare vagrant
Green-breasted Mango	Rare vagrant
Rivoli’s	Rare vagrant
Lucifer	Rare vagrant

For more information on Louisiana hummingbirds:
Read my article:
Louisiana Hummingbird Migration

Read on to find out more about each of these hummingbird species as well as where and when they can be found in Louisiana.

Year-Round Louisiana Hummingbirds

There are no hummingbirds classified as year-round residents in Louisiana.

This hummingbird classification is defined as year-round residents residing in Louisiana 365 days a year.

Some Rufous, Black-chinned, and Broad-billed hummingbirds are seen in Louisiana during winter, but most migrate south for the winter.
Other hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate can also overwinter.

Contrary to popular belief, hummingbirds can withstand far lower temperatures than most people would expect.

Some banded hummingbirds have been observed at temperatures as low as -9 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of -36 degrees Fahrenheit, according to eBird.org.

See my article:
3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded

Read on to find out more about each of these hummingbird species as well as where and when they can be found in Louisiana.

Seasonal Louisiana Hummingbirds

The Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Buff-bellied, and Calliope hummingbirds are the 5 classified seasonal Louisiana hummingbirds.

Hummingbirds that fit within this category are those that migrate through Louisiana on a spring or fall migration basis.

Hummingbirds move south to spend the winter in Mexico and Central America in the fall, after migrating north in the spring to reproduce.

Due to their preference, an ailment, or advanced age, certain seasonal hummingbirds may spend the whole winter in the state.

Read on to find out more about each of these hummingbird species as well as where and when they can be found in Louisiana.

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD – (Archilochus colubris)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Archilochus
Species: A. colubris

Ruby-throated hummingbirds main residence is mostly in the Midwest and on the east coast of the United States, therefore they are most commonly seen in Louisiana.

According to the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP) for Louisiana hummingbirds, the Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that breeds and nests in Louisiana.

See the current sighting map of Ruby-throated hummingbirds in Louisiana.

For more pictures and information on Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD – (Selasphorus rufus)

Conservation Status: Near threatened
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Selasphorus
Species: S. rufous

Rufous hummingbirds are located in western North America and is a seasonal migrating visitor to Louisiana.

Some Rufous hummingbirds are seen in Louisiana during winter, but most migrate south for the winter.

They are the second most commonly seen hummingbird in Louisiana, behind the Ruby-throated hummingbird.

See the current sighting map of Rufous hummingbirds in Louisiana.

For more pictures and information on Rufous hummingbirds.

BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD – (Archilochus alexandri)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Archilochus
Species: A. alexandri

The Black-chinned hummingbird is a seasonal migratory visitor to Louisiana that breeds as far north as Canada, the western United States, and as south as Mexico.

Some Black-chinned hummingbirds are seen in Louisiana during winter, but most migrate south for the winter.

They are the third most commonly seen hummingbird in Louisiana, behind the Rufous hummingbird.

See the current sighting map of the Black-chinned hummingbird in Louisiana.

For more pictures and information on Black-chinned hummingbirds.

BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD – (Amazilia yucatanensis)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Amazilia
Species: A. yucatanensis

Buff-bellied hummingbirds are primarily found in Mexico and Central America.
They are frequently observed along the coast of the Gulf of America in the southern United States and are a seasonal hummingbird to Louisiana.

See the current sighting map of Buff-bellied hummingbirds in Louisiana.

For more pictures and information on Buff-bellied hummingbirds.

CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD – (Selasphorus calliope)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Selasphorus
Species: S. calliope

Calliope hummingbirds are located in western North America and are a seasonal migrating species to Louisiana.

They breed in the north from southern Alaska and most travel all the way south to winter in Mexico.

See the current sighting map of the Calliope hummingbird in Louisiana.

For more pictures and information on Calliope hummingbirds.

Rare/Vagrant Louisiana Hummingbirds

Broad-tailed, Broad-billed, Allen’s, Anna’s, Blue-throated Mountain-gem, Green-breasted Mango, Mexican Violetear, Rivoli’s, and Lucifer hummingbirds are the 9 Louisiana hummingbirds classified as rare or vagrant hummingbirds.

This hummingbird classification is defined as hummingbirds residing in a group outside of their normal geographic range.

Not only do these species of hummingbirds have a wide variety of specific geographic ranges, but they are also known to sometimes interbreed with each other creating hybrids.

Read on to find out more about each of these hummingbird species in Louisiana.

BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD – (Selsaphoris platycercus)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Selsaphoris
Species: S. platycercus

The Broad-tailed hummingbird is primarily found in the mountainous regions of western North America and migrates south to winter in Mexico and Guatemala.
They are a rare/vagrant hummingbird to Louisiana.

See the current sighting map of Broad-tailed hummingbirds in Louisiana.

For more pictures and information on Broad-tailed hummingbirds.

BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD –
(Cynanthus latirostris)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Cynanthus
Species: C. latirostris

Broad-billed hummingbirds are native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and down into Central America.
They travel frequently to the United States close to the southern Mexican border, however are rare/vagrant visitors to Louisiana.

Some Broad-billed hummingbirds are seen in Louisiana during winter (although rare), however most migrate south for the winter.

See the current sighting map of Broad-billed hummingbirds in Louisiana.

For more pictures and information on Broad-billed hummingbirds.

ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD – (Selasphorus sasin)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Selasphorus
Species: S. sasin

Allen’s hummingbirds commonly reside and nest along the West Coast of the United States and winter in Mexico, therefore they are rare vagrant visitors to Louisiana.

See the current sighting map of Allen’s hummingbirds in Louisiana.

For more pictures and information on Allen’s hummingbirds.

ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD – (Calypte anna) 

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Calypte
Species: C. anna

The Anna’s hummingbirds are year-round residents to Washington, Oregon and California in the Western United States.
They are a rare visitor to Louisiana since they are seen mainly along the western coastline of North America.

See the current sighting map of Anna’s hummingbirds in Louisiana.

For more pictures and information on Anna’s hummingbirds.

BLUE-THROATED MOUNTAIN-GEM HUMMINGBIRD
aka BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD – (Lampornis clemenciae)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Lampornis
Species: L. clemenciae

The Blue-throated Mountain-gem aka Blue-throated hummingbird, primarily resides in Mexico and Central America. Their range extends into parts of Guatemala and Honduras.
They are extremely rare in Louisiana.

See the current sighting map of Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds in Louisiana.

For more pictures and information on Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds.

GREEN-BREASTED MANGO – (Anthracothorax prevostii)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Anthracothorax
Species: A. prevostii

The Green-breasted Mango hummingbird is seen on the eastern shores of Colombia, Venezuela, Central America, and central and southern Mexico.
They are extremely rare visitors to Louisiana.

See the current sighting map of the Green-breasted Mango hummingbird in Louisiana.

For more pictures and information on Green-breasted Mango hummingbirds.

MEXICAN VIOLETEAR
(aka GREEN VIOLETEAR) HUMMINGBIRD – (Colibri thalassinus)  

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Colibri
Species: C. thalassinus

The Mexican Violetear (Violet-ear) or the Green-Violetear hummingbird are usually found in Mexico, Central America, and northern South America making them a rare/accidental visitor to Louisiana.

See the current sighting map of Mexican Violetear hummingbirds in Louisiana.

For more pictures and information on Mexican Violetear hummingbirds.

RIVOLI’S HUMMINGBIRD aka MAGNIFICENT – (Eugenes fulgens)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Eugenes
Species: E. fulgens

The Rivoli’s hummingbird (pronounced: rivo-lee), previously known as the Magnificent hummingbird, primarily inhabits mountainous regions of the southwestern United States (southern Arizona and New Mexico) through Mexico and all the way down to Nicaragua in Central America.

They are extremely rare/vagrants in Louisiana.

See the current sighting map of Rivoli’s hummingbirds in Louisiana.

For more pictures and information on Rivoli’s hummingbirds.

LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD – (Calothorax lucifer)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Calothorax
Species: C. lucifer

Lucifer hummingbirds are primarily found in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
They are an extremely rare/vagrant hummingbird to Louisiana.

See the current sighting map of Lucifer hummingbirds in Louisiana.

For more pictures and information on Lucifer hummingbirds.

Keep your eyes peeled, observe and enjoy the multiple types of hummingbirds found in Louisiana!

Read my article:
Louisiana Hummingbird Migration

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions

Happy Hummingbird Watching!